Call them the Rushin’ Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Oct. 29, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

UNLV's sports information department has made it a point to emphasize to the media covering John Robinson's football squad that the team's nickname is the Rebels.

In fact, there is even a little box in the school's weekly football release with the title "Simply Reb." It goes on to say that "only the men's basketball team at UNLV is nicknamed Runnin' Rebels."

But the school may want to amend that rule if Joe Haro & Co. keep piling up the rushing yardage.

After rushing for a season-high 439 yards on 53 attempts (8.3 average) in Saturday's 47-26 trouncing of Wyoming, the Runnin' -- er, Rebels -- moved up to fourth in the nation in team rushing with an average of 250.13 yards per game.

No. 5 in this week's rankings is option-oriented Air Force (246.17).

In eight of the last 10 years, Fisher DeBerry's Falcons have finished in the top five nationally in rushing. Fifteen times since 1984 Air Force has led either the WAC or Mountain West Conference in rushing. It's almost a foregone conclusion Air Force will lead the MWC in rushing each year as long as DeBerry is around.

Which makes UNLV's current ranking even more impressive. The Rebels played a tough nonconference schedule, have struggled with the passing game and have not had their top breakaway threat, Dominique Dorsey, healthy for the past month.

Trying to retain its lofty standing will be tough for UNLV, however. This Saturday's opponent, Utah, was rated 24th nationally in rush defense going into the weekend and has a tough, physical defense. And next week's opponent, New Mexico, is giving up less than 80 yards per game on the ground.

The Rebels also will likely be without one of their top offensive linemen, senior guard Greg Hulett, who sprained his MCL in Saturday's win at Wyoming.

"His knee was pretty swollen afterward," UNLV trainer Kyle Wilson said. "I'd say it's pretty doubtful that he'll be able to play (Saturday)."

Redshirt freshman Marcus Johnson is listed as Hulett's backup.

Haro moved up to 17th nationally in rushing with an average of 118.75 yards per game. San Diego State's Larry Ned leads the nation with a 146.0 average.

But Palepoi, who sat out two games to allow the injury to heal the first time he injured it in UNLV's 27-12 victory at Nevada-Reno, claims he will play in Saturday's home finale against Utah.

"I've gotta play in this game," the product of Hunter High School in Salt Lake City said.

Palepoi originally verbally committed to Utah while earning JC All-America honors at Dixie Junior College in St. George, Utah. When he later switched to UNLV, there were some bad feelings on both sides.

"I'm still a little bitter and I'm sure they are also about the ways things ended up there," Palepoi said. "There were some things that were said. I'm not going to go into it. But I'm definitely going to go out there."

Wilson said that Palepoi didn't have much swelling from his injury and was able to walk around on the flight home from Wyoming.

"He says he's playing," Wilson said. "We'll just have to wait and see how things look (at practice) on Tuesday."

Palepoi was wearing a brace when he reinjured the knee. He said he was diving in the air when his leg whipped around and hit somebody.

"You can play on a sprained MCL," he said. "It's just a matter if you can take the pain. If they're going to give me the green light, I'm going to take it."

"My little brother came to the game and I took it from him," Olsen said. "The (Wyoming fans) were actually cheering me a little bit. They kind of like it."

So did Olsen's teammates, a lot of whom took turns putting the two-foot-high hat on their heads.

"They all want one," Olsen said. "They all want to go (back) out and get one. But I think I'll be the only one to get one."